Since becoming a father nearly 2 years ago I've been wearing a helmet every single ride, even if it's a 5 minute sprint up the street to my buddy, etc. I lock my helmet in with my ULock so I never forget it, and it prompts me to put it on as part of my routine (unlock bike, put helmet on, carry down from the deck, put cyclocomputer on, lights if required, buckle helmet, get on and ride).
My outlook changed a lot at that point. Previously it was inconsistent use, often with really long periods of never touching the thing - my maturer mind now wonders how I ever survived my childhood/teen/University student years of craziness on a bike.
Originally Posted by Lucky07
Whatever you decide, don't dangle the helmet from your handlebars. I see that all the time & makes me laugh. What is the helmet doing there? Is it a bike ornament? Protecting the handlebars? Or did the rider feel some pang of guilt & decide to take the helmet along, but not to wear it. Bizarre...
Worse than this, IMO, are the folks who WEAR the helmet but keep it unbuckled... WTF? Seriously...
Now, I don't know if this is classed as dangerous, but I do sometimes (very rarely) take my helmet off if I'm stopped at a long light change - this is only to ruffle my hair and get rid of some heat, wipe my brow, etc. - in the summertime of course. I do wonder about being rear-ended at this point...
I've been mocked by people (both friends and cagers) for my helmet, but I just brush it off - it's a safety device, not a fashion statement - and IMO, fashion is all a load of shallow BS anyway
